Private Put In Fees On Private Property.

[flytyer57]

There are way too many places I'd like to just pull over and fish, but with property rights being taken to the extreme in some cases, I don't bother. I don't want to return to my vehicle to find the local constable writing a ticket as a tow truck is hooking up to my vehicle. If there is a store near the place I'd like to fish, I'd stop in and inquire about gaining access, not just parking in the lot and launching my yak like it's nobody's business.

[stlfisher]

I can see no gray area if people are parking on his land. If people parking there is common place then I would post a sign with the prices and to stop at the store or you WILL be towed.

I would have no problems with that at all.

[Mitch f]

I almost always stick to public water and public access so my opinion is probably not worth much, but it bugs me, that as many of these types of conversations we have had, I still don't know what is really legal and what is not. I'd rather not deal with it when I am trying to just go out and fish. The laws surrounding access and trespassing seem open to way to much interpretation. I spend the work week dealing with cr@p. I don't want to spend my day worrying if my left tire might be trespassing. I think in a situation such as this it is only ethical to post that it is private property and there are fees to park and launch your craft. It is not good business, IMO, to approach people after the fact, especially if there might be a gray area...which it sounds like might be the case. Be upfront and I have no issues otherwise my scamdar goes off.

"Scamdar", I gotta remember that one!

[ColdWaterFshr]

There is no gray area on this issue. Has nothing to do with a navigable waterway at all. The property in question is fenced and gated and unless you had very poor eyesight, you would know, beyond any doubt, that you were on private property as you pull off the Hwy 8 and see the store there.

I think we are a little bit spoiled in this state with all the access we do have, and all the public streams. With that being the case, some people just assume they have free access to the river if they can see a clear and reasonable path to get to it. Neverminding who owns that path or gravel road.

I would be tempted, if I owned this property to just not even hassle with offering the access at all, making it only available to guests who were camping overnight or renting boats. The problem with this would be that people would then create their own paths, along that Hwy easement, which is steep and not a good idea with all the rocks, not to mention a danger as I don't recall there being much of a shoulder to park and unload, etc. So he is in a real catch-22.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm not even saying at this point that there is a legal gray area. With the facts in this specific case being what they are, it is more than likely legal to charge access fees.

I just don't like it when streams and other natural resources are made into objects to profit from. That mentality hurts our rivers. Look at the Meramec or the Current on a summer weekend. The huge crowds are there because a canoe rental is making money off the river. And those crowds ruin the experience for people that just want a quiet trip on a pretty stream. Don't complain about the riff-raff when you own a canoe rental. As an outfitter, you bring in plenty of folks that I'd rather not see on the river too.

[ColdWaterFshr]

I'm not even saying at this point that there is a legal gray area. With the facts in this specific case being what they are, it is more than likely legal to charge access fees.

I just don't like it when streams and other natural resources are made into objects to profit from. That mentality hurts our rivers. Look at the Meramec or the Current on a summer weekend. The huge crowds are there because a canoe rental is making money off the river. And those crowds ruin the experience for people that just want a quiet trip on a pretty stream. Don't complain about the riff-raff when you own a canoe rental. As an outfitter, you bring in plenty of folks that I'd rather not see on the river too.

Dude, your understanding of economics are a little goofy. The huge crowds aren't there so that a business (canoe rental) can make money. Its the other way around.

And as for the "it is more than likely legal to charge access fees" -- that suggests some gray area of doubt still remains in your mind. It is 100%, cut and dry, no ifs ands or buts about it, completely legal. A lot of people profit from our rivers and streams, get over it.

[awhuber]

Dude, your understanding of economics are a little goofy. The huge crowds aren't there so that a business (canoe rental) can make money. Its the other way around.

And as for the "it is more than likely legal to charge access fees" -- that suggests some gray area of doubt still remains in your mind. It is 100%, cut and dry, no ifs ands or buts about it, completely legal. A lot of people profit from our rivers and streams, get over it.

Well said!

[cwc87]

I have seen only a handful of folks try to park on the Highway easement and once they try it most never do it again. I have parked on some crazy highway easements and packed my canoe op steep rocky itch weed infested banks just because there was no access. Anyhow, I'm sorry if I rubbed anyone the wrong way. NOw, I just got off the river and the smallies were a biting like crazy. Best thing only the bigger fish were eating. I will try to post a report accordingly later. Tight LInes!!

[Mitch f]

I have seen only a handful of folks try to park on the Highway easement and once they try it most never do it again. I have parked on some crazy highway easements and packed my canoe op steep rocky itch weed infested banks just because there was no access. Anyhow, I'm sorry if I rubbed anyone the wrong way. NOw, I just got off the river and the smallies were a biting like crazy. Best thing only the bigger fish were eating. I will try to post a report accordingly later. Tight LInes!!

water up and rolling on the Meramec, they should have been wackin the spinnerbait

[ness]

I'm not even saying at this point that there is a legal gray area. With the facts in this specific case being what they are, it is more than likely legal to charge access fees.

I think it's more than more than likely. Guy owns the land, you gotta have permission to be on it.

I just don't like it when streams and other natural resources are made into objects to profit from. That mentality hurts our rivers. Look at the Meramec or the Current on a summer weekend. The huge crowds are there because a canoe rental is making money off the river. And those crowds ruin the experience for people that just want a quiet trip on a pretty stream. Don't complain about the riff-raff when you own a canoe rental. As an outfitter, you bring in plenty of folks that I'd rather not see on the river too.

I get what you're saying, but it's awful hard for me to find fault with cwc87. He owns some land, a river runs through it, and he can make a buck from it. I don't like to see a flotilla of canoes spinning through my trout water either, but I know it's part of the deal until I've saved up enough dough to buy 10 miles of stream of my very own. In the meantime, I'll work around the obstacles.